Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy is in a no-win situation as his team bid to complete their unbeaten Group Two World Cup qualifying campaign against Cyprus in Dublin on Saturday.

Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy is in a no-win situation as his team bid to complete their unbeaten Group Two World Cup qualifying campaign against Cyprus in Dublin on Saturday.

Win, lose or draw, the Irish are guaranteed at least play-off games against an as yet unknown Asian Group side with the first match scheduled for Dublin on November 10 and the return five days later.

Victory at home to Estonia on Saturday would have Portugal on 24 points, the same as the Irish providing they overcome Cyprus.

But Portugal currently have a superior goal difference of plus 21 against the Irish's plus 14.

"Realistically we have to be thinking of those play-offs next month and the opposition could be Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, or maybe loads of other places," said the Irish boss.

McCarthy is determined to travel to the play-off games between the two teams who finish second in the Asian groups to determine who plays his side. But he said: "At present we really just do not have a clue which nation we will meet from the Asian groups."

With the current political turmoil in the Middle East, the Gulf States and those nations surrounding Afghanistan, there is no guarantee that the Irish games can go ahead as scheduled. Insurance for players is likely to be a major hurdle.